“At each stage of her life she broke the mould - a woman at Oxford, when there was no a single woman in the university who held a full professorship.

"A woman chemist when most people assumed scientists had to be men, a woman candidate for Parliament in 1950 against the opposition of some in her party in Dartford at the age of only 24, a woman MP in 1959 when just 4% of MPs in the whole of this House were women."

MPs and peers will today pay their respects to Baroness Thatcher after Parliament was recalled from its Easter recess so tributes could be paid to the former prime minister.

They will debate a single line motion which reads: "That this House has considered the matter of tributes to the Rt Hon Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven LG OM."

The Union flag flew at half mast over the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday. Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

The Prime Minister will lead the debate on the death of Lady Thatcher, Ed Miliband will follow, before Speaker John Bercow then calls MPs to contribute.

David Cameron and Ed Miliband will make statements on Lady Thatcher's death

The order paper for proceedings indicate the debate may continue until 10pm, at which point Leader of the House Andrew Lansley will adjourn the Commons until its planned return from the Easter recess on Monday.

A competition is underway that might just find the next One Direction or Emili Sande. It's called Rock the House - and winners get to perform at one of the country's most unlikely venues - The Houses of Parliament.

Backed by MPs from the Meridian region - it aims to raise awareness of music copyright theft and showcase talent to the industry. Ben Erlam reports.